Israel claims to have killed the Hamas mastermind Yahya Sinwar responsible for the October 7 attacks.

More than a year after the devastating October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, the Israeli military announced on Thursday that it has killed the individual it deems the primary architect of that cross-border assault. This development raises questions regarding the future of both the ongoing war and the militant group, which has suffered significant setbacks in recent months.

According to U.S. officials, the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar could present a rare chance to negotiate a ceasefire, especially since Israel has also eliminated several other high-ranking Hamas commanders, including Ismail Haniyeh, the group's former political leader, as well as top figures from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hamas and Hezbollah are part of a network of militant organizations supported by Iran.

In a recorded statement on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Sinwar's death signifies “the beginning of the day after Hamas,” while adding, “the task before us is not yet complete.”

As of now, Hamas has not issued a statement regarding the reports of its leader's death.

 

                       How did it occurred?

Since the October 7 attacks, Israel has dedicated extensive resources to a relentless manhunt for Yahya Sinwar, labeling him the most-wanted individual in Gaza and a “dead man walking.” At one point, an Israeli military spokesperson declared that the search “will not stop until he is captured, dead or alive.”
U.S. officials believe that the Israeli military came close to capturing him several times, even obtaining a video that allegedly showed Sinwar with family members inside a Gaza tunnel, but he managed to evade capture. The Israeli military had previously surrounded Sinwar’s home and launched a major assault on his hometown of Khan Younis, yet he remained elusive.
That year-long search unexpectedly concluded on Wednesday in Rafah, southern Gaza. Israeli forces were conducting a routine military operation in the area when they came under fire near a building, according to two Israeli sources familiar with the situation.
In response, the troops returned fire with a tank and deployed a drone to the heavily damaged structure, as reported by the Israeli military. The footage released by the military appears to show Sinwar’s final moments: he is seen sitting alone in a chair, surrounded by dust and debris, seemingly looking directly at the camera. He holds a piece of wood and throws it at the drone before the video ends.
It was only after inspecting the rubble that the troops discovered Sinwar among the deceased, according to the Israeli military.
Dental records and other biometric data were used to confirm the identity of the Hamas leader, as stated by a U.S. official and a former official familiar with the case.
An Israeli military spokesperson revealed on Thursday that Sinwar had been attempting to flee to the north at the time of his death. He was found in possession of a firearm and over $10,000 in Israeli shekels.

                            Who was Sinwar ?

Sinwar had been a significant figure in Hamas, joining the militant group in the late 1980s and rapidly advancing through its ranks.


Born in a Gaza refugee camp after his family fled the Palestinian village of Al-Majdal—now part of the Israeli city of Ashkelon—during the Arab-Israeli war, Sinwar grew up with a strong sense of resistance.
As a student, he became an activist against the occupation but was later imprisoned in Israel, receiving multiple life sentences for allegedly orchestrating murder. After serving 23 years, he was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange.

Upon returning to Gaza, Sinwar swiftly made a name for himself within Hamas. He established the group’s notorious international intelligence security branch, known as Majd, and gained a reputation for utilizing extreme violence against anyone suspected of collaborating with Israel.

Some viewed Sinwar as a pragmatic political leader; in 2017, Hamas elected him as the political chief of the Politburo, its principal decision-making body in Gaza.

In 2015, both the U.S. Department of State and the European Union designated him a global terrorist, and he faced sanctions from the United Kingdom and France in recent years.

However, his prominence grew significantly following the October 7 attacks, making him one of Israel's primary targets. Israeli officials referred to him as the “face of evil” and “the butcher from Khan Younis.”

In August, he ascended to one of the most senior leadership positions in Hamas after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Since the October 7 attacks, Sinwar had not been publicly seen, likely evading capture during Israel’s siege of Gaza by taking refuge in an extensive network of underground tunnels.

     What was his involvement on October 7?

Israel has officially accused Sinwar of being the “mastermind” behind Hamas’ October 7 attack, although experts suggest he was likely one of several key figures involved.

This assault marked the deadliest day in Israel’s history, with Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups claiming the lives of over 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages into Gaza.

Sinwar was seen as a crucial decision-maker and likely served as the primary liaison with the outside world during the critical negotiations for the hostages' release.

These discussions involved high-ranking officials from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.